Battery or starter issue?

[NathanOfSeattle]

Not sure if it is cold weather related, but in the past few days (it's been around the 40s here in Seattle), my 2000 4Runner has been having a hard time starting. The engine turns very slowly but eventually starts up. This happens both when using the clutch pedal and the clutch start stop button. I used a multimeter to test the battery voltage and it read 12.4V right after I killed the engine and about 11.3V after it sat over night. Also I don't know when the battery was changed as there doesn't appear to be any date markings on the battery itself. I've owned the truck for 3 years now so I know it is at least 3 years old.

Should I just go ahead and change the battery anyway? I'm hoping it is not something more expensive like the starter. Though it could be as my truck has 171K miles on it now.

 

[cj80cruiser]

Probably your battery but starter contacts are only $20 from the dealer.

 

[NathanOfSeattle]

Probably your battery but starter contacts are only $20 from the dealer.

How do you replace those? I've never done that before.

 

[Ronin1082]

Start with the battery. The average lifespan of a battery is 3-5 years. If you have AAA, call them and have a battery service done.

 

[cj80cruiser]

How do you replace those? I've never done that before.

Google search 3rd gen 4runner starter contacts and you should find a few how to's

Comarc did a good one.
here it is



.

 

[KHoffRunner]

Mine did this exact thing for about two weeks, then it does it mildly now but i think its the contacts.

 

[nevada]

11.3v after sitting overnight is dead.

replace the battery.

 

[brian2sun]

Test your battery's cold cranking amps (any parts store will usually do this for you when you are there to buy a new battery). If it's cranking slow, but still cranking, the starter and it's contacts are fine. It's loosing charge overnight, and how many volts it has doesn't really matter as much as the cranking amps anyways. You can have a battery that tests at 12v, but low or no cranking amps, and it's still a dead battery.

 

[NathanOfSeattle]

Turned out to be the battery. Went to Costco and picked up a battery and now my 4Runner is starting up like a charm. Only thing is, they only had 800 CCA batteries in stock that would work for my truck. It was actually a little cheaper too. It is also slightly larger but still fits in the tray. I had to push down the bar thing that holds the battery in just to tighten the bolts.

Any risk for using a higher CCA battery? Or the more the merrier?

 

[brian2sun]

800 CCA is fine. I think the battery I have is 1000.

 

[shadow247]

Turned out to be the battery. Went to Costco and picked up a battery and now my 4Runner is starting up like a charm. Only thing is, they only had 800 CCA batteries in stock that would work for my truck. It was actually a little cheaper too. It is also slightly larger but still fits in the tray. I had to push down the bar thing that holds the battery in just to tighten the bolts.

Any risk for using a higher CCA battery? Or the more the merrier?

Not going to hurt anything at all. I work in a f**d parts dept and we offer a choice to upgrade to an 850 from the usual 750 batteries for trucks. I'm gonna put a motocraft in mine since I can get them for 99 bucks!